Belper Civic Forum

The children and teachers finally left the old Herbert Strutt school building this morning. The story was covered by BBC East Midlands TV, including interviews with Belper Civic Forum about the future use of the site.  The Strutt School sub-group of the Forum decided this week to use the name “Strutts” for its project for the re-use of the building for mixed community and commercial use. A special web page is being prepared including an on-line petition. In the meantime volunteers will be out getting signatures in Belper on Saturdays March 1st and 8th. A further press release has been prepared that gives a lot more background to the issues.Press release 27th Feb o8

The Aleena Naylor show at 1000 today featured an interview with members of the BCF Strutt School Group about the future of the building. Statements were also provided by Derbyshire County Council and Amber Valley Borough Council.

Members may nominate other members to be officers and committee members of the Belper Civic Forum Executive Committee for the elections that will take place at the AGM on 1st April 2008. Nominations must be sent to the secretary no later than 14 days before that date. You need the consent of the nominee and a seconder. A Nomination form is available to enable you to do this. The form lists all the positions that need to be filled. You may also wish to refer to the Constitution.

Herbert Strutt School

On 3 Dec there was an open meeting of those interested in the Strutt School project. This was to be followed up by a meeting on 8 Feb of those wanting to join the Steering Group for this project or take on specific jobs. See calendar. There has been a lot of activity on this project; for instance on the feasibility brief, discussions with potential users and other interested parties have taken place. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the Citizens Advice Bureau have both authorised us to make public their expression of interest in joining the project and possibly taking space in the building.

Planning Applications monitoring -

We do our best to keep an eye on applications going through, but if you notice something in your area or of particular interest or concern please get in touch.

Meadows Edge

We presented the Civic Forum’s alternative vision for the Meadows Edge site to a well-attended public meeting. This was enthusiastically received and following this endorsement we have made the presentation to the council officers who are preparing the council’s Development Brief. We are keen to play a part in this and we are in the process of preparing the Civic Forum’s own vision for publication and distribution. Watch this space!

Youth Group News

Youth group members heard in November that their application for funding to make a BCF film was not successful. The idea has not been completely abandoned - we are looking for other funding sources at the moment.

In December Harry Symonds, a Belper School sixth former and a BCF youth group member, enabled Sarah Laman and Pippa Mansel to go to Belper School and do a presentation about BCF’s alternative ideas for Meadows Edge. Over 30 sixth formers took part and they went on to look at the scale of existing buildings in comparison to possible future large buildings on the site.

Our Annual General Meeting is to be held on Tuesday 1st April 2008 from 7pm-9pm at St. John’s Heritage Centre. Members will need to have renewed their subscriptions for 2008 in order to attend but you will be able to do this, or join for the first time, on the door. Please let the secretary have nominations for officers and committee members (see “Nominations”).